Sharks D up in win over Flames

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SAN JOSE, CA – NOVEMBER 11: San Jose Sharks goaltender Martin Jones (31) blocks a shot against the Calgary Flames in the second period at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

SAN JOSE — Logan Couture blasted his team for playing “AHL-level” defense and the message clearly hit home.

After giving up three or more goals in nine straight game, the Sharks (9-6-3) finally found a way to keep the puck out of their net Sunday night, picking up a crucial 3-1 division win over the Calgary Flames (10-6-1) at SAP Center.

The win comes on the heels of back-to-back losses in Dallas and St. Louis last week that inspired Couture to rip into his squad for playing “horrible” team defense over the last month. By shoring things up and earning two points, the Sharks tied the Flames for second place in the Pacific Division while pulling to within a point of the Vancouver Canucks for first.

“That was more our identity,” captain Joe Pavelski said. “We’ve just given up so much free stuff this year. A lot of free odd-man rushes. It’s something we’re not used to. We just kind of reset.”

Sunday’s defensive effort started in the goal crease where Martin Jones put together his best performance of the season, surrendering just one goal on 30 shots. Jones, who entered the game with a lackluster .893 save percentage in 12 outings, thwarted Sam Bennett on a rebound attempt early in the first and then he got him again on a penalty shot at 12:22 of the third. Later in the third, he used his blocker to rob Mark Jankowski from the doorstep after Johnny Gaudreau fed him a pass from behind the net.

The Flames scored their lone goal at 6:02 of the second when Monahan capitalized on a quality scoring chance off the rush after Erik Karlsson lost the puck by falling in the neutral zone. Otherwise, the Sharks gave up just nine high-danger scoring chances (Natural Stattrick) after surrendering 24 grade-A opportunities during their two game road trip.

“When we play like that everyone’s job gets a little easier,” Jones said.

On the offensive side of the puck, Tomas Hert’s return to the lineup allowed the Sharks forward lines to fall back into place.

“It fills out the group,” Pavelski said.

Hertl rejoined the Couture-Tomas Hertl line and head coach Pete DeBoer reunited the trio of Evander Kane, Joe Pavelski and Joonas Donskoi that charged the Sharks into the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. Joe Thornton returned to the third line where he skated with Marcus Sorensen and Kevin Labanc.

The Pavelski line played like it was Back to the Future night at the Tank, scoring the Sharks first two goals.

Kane opened the scoring just 50 seconds into the game, beating Flames goalie Mike Smith with a shot to his glove side after Donskoi created a turnover along the boards. Pavelski earned the primary assist.

The line went back to work at 1:28 of the second as Kane fed Donskoi a pass in front, looking like Wayne Gretzky with his puck skills behind the net. Pavelski earned his second assist of the night on the play. He iced the game by scoring an empty-net goal with 51.4 seconds left on the clock.

“Last year we had it. You see it again tonight,” Pavelski said, reflecting on his line’s play Sunday. “There’s definitely something there we can build off of. We feel comfortable together, but it’s on us to work and compete.”